In just over six weeks, the 2022 NBA Draft will take place. The Oklahoma City Thunder is locked with the fourth-highest odds of the lottery, and more clarity on that choice is coming very soon. As a result, their choice will fall somewhere between the first and eighth overall election. Thunder also owns the LA Clippers in the first round who will either sit in the top four, or 12 to 14.
We won’t know what choices Thunder will actually have until the draft lottery later this month. Once that event happens, all selections in the 2022 NBA Draft will be consolidated.
Where these guys fall for Oklahoma City will drastically affect the type of players the Thunder could experience. The difference between the best selection and the selection towards the middle of the lottery can make a big difference.
Kyle Boone of CBS Sports recently released a fake draft of the 2022 class, which provides insight into where some of the best players in the upcoming rookie class might land. His projection shows that Thunder chooses two prolific keepers in the lottery.
Scroll to Continue
Although the draft draw will ultimately decide the final order of selection for the upcoming draft, Thunder’s selection has the fourth highest odds. They also own a selection from the Clippers that has the 12th best lottery odds.
1. Houston Rockets: Chet Holmgren (Center | Gonzaga)
James Snook / USA TODAY Sports
2. Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero (Attack | Duke)
[Theo John]
3. Detroit Pistons: Jabari Smith Jr. (Attacker | Auburn)
Kevin Jairaj / USA TODAY Sports
4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Shaedon Sharpe (Guard | Kentucky)
Jordan Prather / USA TODAY Sports
5. Indiana Pacers: Jaden Ivey (Guard | Purdue)
Nikos Frazier / Journal & Courier-USA TODAY NETWORK
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Keegan Murray (Attack | Iowa)
Steven Branscombe / USA TODAY Sports
7. Sacramento Kings: TyTy Washington (Guard | Kentucky)
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA TODAY Sports
8. New Orleans Pelicans v Jeremy Sochan (Attack | Baylor)
Scott Sewell / USA TODAY Sports
9. San Antonio Spurs AJ Griffin (Attack | Duke)
Joseph Maiorana / USA TODAY Sports
10. Washington Wizards: Ochai Agbaji (Guard | Kansas)
Jay Biggerstaff / USA TODAY Sports
11. New York Knicks: Johnny Davis (Guard | Wisconsin)
Nikos Frazier / Journal & Courier-USA TODAY NETWORK
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Bennedict Mathurin (Guard | Arizona)
Soobum Im / USA TODAY Sports
13. Charlotte Hornets v Jalen Duren (Center | Memphis)
Joe Rondone / The Commercial Appeal-USA TODAY NETWORK
14. Cleveland Cavaliersi: Ousmane Dieng (Attack | Internacional)
Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports
Sharpe and Mathurin are two of the best players in this class. Both also have the size to play on the wing and bring versatility to both ends of the floor.
Want to join the discussion? Like SI Thunder on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest news about Thunder. You can also meet the team behind the reporting.